This Documentary Coming To Netflix Explains Everything You Need To Know About EDM

Tommie Sunshine performs at the Mysteryland festival in the Netherlands.

Courtesy of Red Bull House Media

There's a lot more to electronic dance music than meets the eye. Beyond the parties and music festivals lies an international scene that many fans barely begin to explore — and who can blame them? It takes a lot to keep up with the pace of the culture, especially with all the different artists consistently popping up.

Now you no longer have to go at it alone, veteran Tommie Sunshine can be your guide to navigating the past, present and future of the genre. As an artist who just released his 300th track last week, he knows a thing or 300 about the unbelievable world of EDM music. For a comprehensive deep dive, he called on Red Bull Media House to create the documentary After the Raves— which officially premieres on Netflix today. Stoked? Same.

In the series, Sunshine travels to nine cities to uncover and showcase how dance music has evolved over the years. To give us insight on what to expect, how the changes have affected his music, and the rising stars on his radar, Forbes chatted with Sunshine himself in celebration of today's release.

Isis Briones: What's the biggest way dance music has changed and how do you feel about the way it progressed?

Tommie Sunshine: "I could speak about this topic for hours...even days. When I first started going out in Chicago in 1986, it was a completely bohemian subculture and I’ve watched it over 30+ years turn into a billion dollar earning pop culture. You had to dig for the best music and there were often people in it only for the money, so not much has changed there. I always wished [EDM] would go mainstream so everyone could enjoy it. I most certainly got my wish and it's mind blowing to see the music I’ve enjoyed most of my life become the soundtrack to modern life on Earth."

IB: Where is the most interesting place the genre is heading to and why?

TS: "Back underground!!! I see a vibrant underground emerging again, which is extremely exciting after so many years of it being the opposite. The commercial side of things will continue to get bigger, but the music that will be big in five years can only be heard deep in the underground. The current political landscape is fueling an overabundance of young people with an intense desire to express themselves via music. This is all good news for the industry because amongst those kids are the Calvin Harris, Diplo and Skrillex of the future."

IB: Which rising artists at the moment do you think are the future of dance music?

TS: "I feel like Chris Lake & Fisher will lead the charge that finally breaks house music into the mainstream in America. SLATIN is the most daring artist and the best sound designer I’m aware of in electronic music right now. Kolsch is making cinematic techno that is simply beautiful. 1788-L is making music that will soundtrack the end of the world."

IB: When it comes to your music, who has inspired and influenced it the most?

TS: "I would have to say Giorgio Moroder and Nile Rogers. What Giorgio did with Donna Summer and Berlin, most producers are still trying to replicate and what Nile Rogers did with Chic, Bowie, Madonna and Diana Ross was undefined magic. The best part is they are both still creating and touring at 65 (Nile) and 78 (Giorgio)! There is no end to the inspiration and influence those two men have on absolutely everything I’ve ever made and will ever make."

IB: And that includes your 300th song — congratulations, how does it feel?

TS: "I’m humbled and proud. When I started my label Brooklyn Fire in 2010, I never expected to have this long of a run of putting out music that I love and following a very simple mantra: ‘Great Music. Zero Boundaries. Musically Unafraid.’ Our 300th release is called 'House Music Over Everything' and that says everything it needs to."

TS: "Day one of filming in Europe, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) took us out fishing on the English Channel. We were speaking about his life in the business while the boat was being tossed around like we were filming Deadliest Catch. He stood at the bow holding only a fishing pole, never stopped fishing, smoking a cigarette, and was cool as a cucumber while the whole crew white knuckled whatever we could grab. Never in my life have I seen ocean waters like that and I’m positive we were almost swallowed whole by the sea. All five of my senses will never ever forget that fishing trip and I crack up every time I tell the story."